The Princess and her attendants go hunting, guided by a local forester. She engages him in wordplay, questioning the connection between beauty and praise. She takes the bow and laments the harm she will do the deer. She notes that when people deliberately injure rather than kill their target, they prioritize displaying their skill for praise over the skill itself.

Costard enters and asks which lady is highest. The Princess teasingly misunderstands, inviting further wordplay, but he takes her literally. He says he has a letter from Berowne to Rosaline, but when Boyet reads it out, it is actually a love-letter from Armado to Jaquenetta. The letter is rambling, confused, and self-important. Realizing it is the wrong letter, the Princess derides the writer and asks who they are; Boyet explains that Armado is here to entertain the King and court. Costard still insists it is from Berowne to Rosaline. Everyone leaves except Rosaline, Boyet, Maria, and Costard.

Boyet asks Rosaline about her admirer. She deflects with wordplay and they try to one-up each other with double-entendre. Boyet suggests she will be unfaithful, and she calls him a cuckold.